DENVER (AP) -The Denver Broncos returned from their bye week determined to find a ground game so they could keep their quarterback clean and their defense fresh.

In short, they want to be just like the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Broncos (2-6) stumbled through the season's first half with a turnstile offensive line that couldn't bore holes for a banged up backfield or plug the pass rush that turned Kyle Orton into a punching bag.

Unable to control the clock or correct their offensive imbalance and penchant for penalties, they were overexposed on defense, wearing down by the fourth quarter and losing three close games.

The Chiefs (5-3), who visit Invesco Field on Sunday, are atop the AFC West precisely because they're doing everything the Broncos aren't.

They're the epitome of offensive balance: Matt Cassel has thrown for 1,412 yards while a bruising backfield led by Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones has rushed for 1,437 yards.

Cassel has been sacked 11 times, half as much as Orton.

"It's important to have a balanced attack and we've been doing a pretty good job all year keeping it balanced and mixing and matching both pass and run but also getting us in manageable third-down situations,'' Cassel said. "And we've got two great halfbacks right now that have been doing a great job for us all year.

"And that definitely helps me because it takes some of that pass rush off and you don't become one-dimensional.''

Orton is envious.

"We've hurt ourselves so much that half the time we're in second-and-15, third-and-12. I mean, all you're going to get is pass rush in those situations and you're going to get their best pass rush,'' said Orton.

With a keep-em-guessing offense, the Chiefs have eaten up yards and clock, keeping their defenders fresh, and the result is a plus-6 turnover differential and a turnaround from last year's 4-12 campaign.

"That's what they told me when they called me and said they were going to release me, that they were going to go with a bigger offensive line, a more powerful running game,'' he said.

The Broncos have certainly gotten younger, bigger, stronger and quicker - but not any better.

The Chiefs? They're older, slower and smaller up front, but much improved.

In addition to Wiegmann, veteran right guard Ryan Lilja came over from Indianapolis and right tackle Barry Richardson has been playing ahead of last year's starter, Ryan O'Callaghan.

Cassel said Wiegmann is the reason the O-line has meshed so quickly.

"Oh, man. We've been so fortunate to have Casey here and he's done a tremendous job for us. He's a guy that's come in and never complains, just puts his head down and works hard,'' Cassel said. "And he's a guy that's been leading since he stepped in the weight room this offseason. I don't think he even missed an offseason workout. He's a guy that's just added a tremendous amount of leadership and is just showing our young guys what it takes to be successful in the NFL.''

The team Wiegmann left behind sports the worst ground game in the NFL with a measly 67-yard average, more than 100 yards a game less than Kansas City.

The Broncos insist they'll be better in the cold weather because tailback Knowshon Moreno is finally healthy after being hindered by two torn hamstrings and they finally have the offensive line in place that they envisioned before Ryan Harris sprained his left ankle in the preseason finale.

Harris went back to right tackle this week with rookie Zane Beadles moving back to left guard.

They hope to cut down on the many hits Orton is taking like the one from San Francisco linebacker Manny Lawson two weeks ago that jammed his throwing shoulder into the turf and bruised his ribs, leaving him unsure if he could have played last week had the Broncos had a game.

Protecting their prolific passer - Orton is on pace to challenge Dan Marino's NFL record of 5,084 yards set in 1984 - is priority No. 1 for the Broncos.

To do that, they need better blocking up front, better blitz pickup from the backs, more production on the ground and cleaner play all around.

That way, Orton wouldn't have to air it out so much.

"I think any time the volume of passes goes up, the volume of hits on the quarterback tends to do the same thing,'' Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said. "I think it's a two-sided issue - run it better, throw it less - and he doesn't have to take as many hits.''

Like Cassel.

"We've become a balanced attack,'' Cassel said. "That's important for any quarterback because at this time last year we were 1-7 and we were a struggling football team trying to find our identity.''

**** the Donks as a team,group and as an organization,and if anybody wants to be down with them...**** them too!

Numbah One

11-12-2010, 07:50 AM

Hahahahaha.

This is perfect for the Mane.

Molitoth

11-12-2010, 07:53 AM

Trade ya Cassel for Orton.... =p

Fritz88

11-12-2010, 07:59 AM

Hahahahaha.

This is perfect for the Mane.

Hit us with the link.

Numbah One

11-12-2010, 08:03 AM

The invasion of the Mane starts NOW!

This is our Omaha.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=95002

fan4ever

11-12-2010, 08:30 AM

To be just like the Chiefs? What a lofty goal.

Maybe like us in two years, but now?

Bane

11-12-2010, 08:36 AM

"Broncos want to be just like the Chiefs"
Why would they attempt to build a heterosexual fan base now all of the sudden?

milkman

11-12-2010, 08:39 AM

To be just like the Chiefs? What a lofty goal.

Maybe like us in two years, but now?

I think the goal for most teams is to be balanced on offense.

That's what the article is talking about.

Fritz88

11-12-2010, 08:41 AM

I think the goal for most teams is to be balanced on offense.

That's what the article is talking about.

Do you think our offense would be as balanced have we had a better QB?
Posted via Mobile Device

Numbah One

11-12-2010, 08:42 AM

They're the epitome of offensive balance: Matt Cassel has thrown for 1,412 yards while a bruising backfield led by Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones has rushed for 1,437 yards.

That's not quite true.

290 rushing attempts
214 passing attempts

milkman

11-12-2010, 08:44 AM

Do you think our offense would be as balanced have we had a better QB?
Posted via Mobile Device

I think the numbers would be reversed, with more passing yards than rushing yards, but I do think there would still be balance.

Mile High Mania

11-12-2010, 09:45 AM

The article is kinda funny... KC doesn't pass a lot because they have a strong running game, that's very true... but Cassel is one of those QBs that you don't necessarily want to pass alot, so it's also by design which is likely why they jumped out so quickly to sign Jones in the offseason.

If the OL could provide better protection... Orton would have less complaints, and that would open up the ground game a bit more. Maybe. Moreno still doesn't strike me as a legit 20 carry threat, which is why I was not happy with their lack of focus on bringing in a veteran or rookie RB to push him.

CoMoChief

11-12-2010, 10:10 AM

That's not quite true.

290 rushing attempts
214 passing attempts

So they run it about 10x more a game than they do pass. That's not really that "un-balanced". Really that avgs about running the ball 2-3 times more per qtr.

CoMoChief

11-12-2010, 10:11 AM

I think this is going to be another blowout.

Denver can't stop the run
Denver can't protect the QB
Denver can't run the football

Fritz88

11-12-2010, 10:31 AM

I think the numbers would be reversed, with more passing yards than rushing yards, but I do think there would still be balance.

I think Haley would air it out if he had a competent QB.

Mile High Mania

11-12-2010, 10:36 AM

I think this is going to be another blowout.

Denver can't stop the run
Denver can't protect the QB
Denver can't run the football

They've had their moments when they've done well, but it hasn't been consistent and it hasn't happened in a few weeks.

LaChapelle

11-12-2010, 10:47 AM

Hopefully Casey will be no more than a back up next season
at 38 probably not even that

vailpass

11-12-2010, 10:49 AM

Broncos want to be like Chiefs?
We're going to give back our modern-era playoff and superbowl victories?